The Penn's Grove record., 1887-09-17

FARMNoTEs.


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LAND PLASTER AS AN ABSORBENT.
1t is safe to say that the ground I'M
der Observation-Disclosures Of the stables
of the country is saturated with a vast
wealth of fertility. Where no provi-
sion are made for absorbing liquid
manures the loss of fertility is so fright
full that a realization of it would appall
the most stOicaI OF Indifferent farmer.
BY far the richest part Of animal manure
Is in the fluids they are particularly
rich in ammonia, an element which
land is most generally deficient in, and
which is essential to all plant growths.
Methods for the absorption and preser.
walton of this fertility should be I'M
ployed at all hazards, and as they are
not difficult nor expensive, neglect is en-
tirely uniustifable. Straw is an excel
lent absorbent, aud plenty of 1t spread
ON the floor OF the stables adds to the
comfort of the stock. besides bottling
up the desired fertility. But farmers
and dairymen who have tried 1t say that
land plaster. all things considered, is
The very best material to use for this
purpose. 1t absorbs so quickly and
literally, and holds all volatile elements
80 securely, that stables are made sweet
and pure to a most gratifying extent.
This feature is of ~incalculable value
It makes flies less Numerous and trouble
some, gives a much purer air for the
animals to breathe, thus adding to their
health and vitality. In COW stables, or
milking sheds, the use of plaster should
be considered a necessity ; In Heutra-
1 49, .0nrefrn ,1Nra x-hfoh rnflIr wand
| lily absorbs, it is worth many times its
cost. OF itself the plaster is an excel
lent fertilizer for many kinds of soils,
but IL it had no other value than that
| of a powerful absorbent we would be
justified in strongly advising its use. a
farmer who has used it as suggested
here for many years says the cost of 1t
is too small to cut any figure /; the price
is low, So to SIS a ton, and SO little of it
is required on an ordinary farm that
the expense is no barrier to its univer-
sal use.
WHEN orchard trees are llmbed high
there is little risk in giving hogs the
run of the orchard, as they will rarely
attack the trees unless starved to it.
An experienced writer in a Southern
DdDtI says - l. uGCDu IL OCoD W hCCR
hogs or pigs In the orchard the whole
year, except at gathering time. They
keep down the rampant growth of
weeds, being total destroyers of wild
carrots and wild parsnip, the root of
which Is very poisonous to cows, but
hogs are very fond of it. They also rid
the orchard OF rabbits, snakes and ground
hogs (woodchucks) and finally, what
better way can you find to distribute
their manureY"
As a rule, it is better to have the
heifers come In when two years old.
They will make better cows, unless
they are runty little things. In such a
case wait a year longer. The milk or
gans are better developed, and they
make better cows coming into use at
two years of age. They do not get so
beefy, but they must not be starved, or
they will make cows understood. They
do not mature SO soon, but when well
fed they will get to a full size, and
there will be a gain OF a year in profit.
Thoroughbred COWS all come in at two
years. 1t is more a matter of food and
care than age.
WHEN the ho0fS OF a horse are hard
and dry and brittle and shrink and dis
tort the shape of the foot, 1t indicates
the existence of fever in the feet and in
lamation of the lamine or connecting
plates which unite the horn with the
vascular part of the foot. To remedy
this apply hot bran or linseed poultices
to the feet, or make the animal stand
in a soft puddle of clay up to the coro-
net for several hours. Then soak well
with warm water, aud apply glycerine
without drping the feet. Give the
horse twelve ounces of EPSON salts and
feed bran mash and green grass and
clover.
DUCKS Eggs are well adapted to
Matching in the incubator, as there is
but little trouble from infertile
eggs. They will stand greater varia-
tions of temperature, especially bearing
lower temperature very well, and tina
young ducks are easy to raise By hand,
often doing much better so than when
allowed to run with a hen or with the
old duck.
THE smaller the weeds, the easier
they are killed. A plant is just as
much a weed when just in the seed leaf
as if it were large enough to be gTubbed
up. At this carly age, a slight disturb
ance will kill the sturdlest weed. Use
a steel rake with long teeth, keen the
teeth sharp and go over all the grounds
| occupied with crops, with an active
man at the handle of the rake, weeds
have NO chance.
GOOD farmers are nOw asking them
selves: "How many pounds of meat
and butter to the acret" 1t is no long
or a question of bushels only. This
new way Of looking at the acres posi-
bility will rapidly improve methods Of
farming. enlarge the productivity of
the acre, and result in more and better
Stock
AN exchange remarks that a poor
neglected flock can be brought up by
proper care and feed, ana made to i'm
prove from year to year, but great care
must be exercised IN the selection of
rams. In breeding 1t is not necessary,
but it is much better than selecting a
poor, crawny, ill-bred ran from
another strain. A l~ong-legged, long
necked, thin-wooled buck is dear prop
erty at any price.
IN raising ducks mix corn-meal and
bran, equal parts, and make into a
mush and feed this IN milk, If milk is
rot to be had, put some ground meat
or cracklings In the mush. Clear, raw
corn meal mixed with water is not a fit
feed for ducklings. Until past the
downy stage they should have no water
to swim in. Give them all they want
to drink. Put gravel and sand i'll tue
bottom Of the water vessel.